Janet Evanovich - Full Bloom

"I did that," Theenie cut in quickly. "I'm accustomed to seeing naked men. It used to be part of my job."

Wes seemed to ponder that before turning back to Annie. "I want my clothes, and I want them now."

Annie pointed. "They're hanging on the back of the door here. While you get dressed, I'll prepare you a plate. We're having meat loaf." She and Theenie hurried from the room.

The group was silent when Wes entered the kitchen a few minutes later, fully dressed, with the exception of his denim jacket, hooked over one finger. He leaned close to Annie. "Mind telling me what happened to my boxer shorts?"

"Oh, I left them on top of the dryer," Theenie said. She stood and hurried into the laundry room, but when she reappeared she looked confused. "They're gone." She looked at Destiny.

"What? You think I took them?"

"Well, they didn't just walk away."

The three women looked at one another, then at Erdle.

He shook his head. "I don't wear boxer shorts with hearts on them."

All eyes landed on Wes. "I got behind on my laundry, and they were my last pair. Besides, I didn't know they would be on display in a house full of strangers."

"I'm sure they'll turn up," Annie said. "Won't you join us for dinner? I know you have to be hungry."

Wes hesitated. Finally, he draped his jacket over the back of the chair and sat as everyone began passing food to him. Annie had prepared him a glass of iced tea and set it beside his plate. He stared at it for a moment.

"I didn't poison it," she said.

He took a tentative sip.

They ate in silence. Destiny finally broke it when she asked how Max and Jamie's wedding plans were going.

Theenie gasped and slapped her hand over her mouth. "We're not supposed to mention names," came her muffled reply. She cut her eyes to Erdle.

"What do I care who's getting married here?" he said with a shrug.

"Please don't discuss it with anyone," Annie told him. As she gave Destiny an update she could feel Wes's eyes on her. She looked at him, and their gazes locked for several seconds before she looked away.

A clatter from above made them pause and stare at the ceiling.

Wes glanced around the table at the anxious faces. "Are there other guests here?"

"It's just the wind rattling the windowpanes," Annie said.

"Yeah, right," Destiny muttered.

Theenie looked at Wes. "You know, our Annie puts on the most beautiful weddings," she blurted, obviously trying to change the subject. "Her clientele is growing by leaps and bounds."

"Is that so?"

"Her parties are just grand."

"I don't think Wes is interested in all that," Annie said, her face growing warm.

Theenie went on. "Annie usually does all the cooking, but Lovelle and I help. We're full-time tenants. Lovelle is away at the moment. We used to have another tenant named Dora, but she died."

Wes arched one brow and turned to Annie.

"It wasn't my fault. She was elderly and died of natural causes."

"How long have you had this place?" he asked.

Annie was surprised he was being civil to her. "The house has been in my family for generations, but I only opened the bed-and-breakfast a few years ago. This is my slow season."

He sat back in his chair and regarded her. "I might be interested in renting a room."

Everybody gaped. Erdle, in the process of swallowing, almost choked. "You'd actually rent a room from her after what happened? Man, you must be desperate."

"I only need a place for a week or two, and I hate motel rooms."

"Well, I …" Annie tried to pull her thoughts together. She glanced at Theenie, whose face seemed to have drained of color. Destiny looked amused.

"I can provide references," he said. "Except for that short stint in prison."

Theenie dropped her fork, and it clattered in her plate.

"Just kidding," Wes said.

"You should rent him the master bedroom," Erdle said. He looked at Wes. "It's huge. Has cable TV, a fireplace, one of those claw-foot tubs in the bathroom, and a big mirror on the ceiling."

"Wow, that sounds like my kind of room," Destiny said.

Annie managed a tight smile. "I don't normally rent it out. Only if I'm booked and have no other choice."

"Why aren't you using it?" Wes asked.

Erdle answered for her. "She moved out of it when her husband ran off with another woman."

"Thank you for sharing, Erdle," Annie said.

Wes seemed to be doing his best to swallow a smile. "How long has your husband been gone?"

Annie avoided eye contact. "Three years."

"Does he live around here?" Wes asked.

"If I knew where he lived I would serve him with divorce papers." She gave a dismissive wave. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"I'd like to see the room after dinner if that's okay."

"I have other rooms."

"Yes, but I'm willing to pay twice what you would normally charge for the master."

"Why on earth would you do that?" she asked.

"Because it offers a lot more than a motel room and because the food is good here." He almost smiled. "And I have a thing for overhead mirrors."

"Amen to that," Destiny said, drawing a frown from Theenie.

"I'd jump on that, Miss Annie," Erdle said, "seeing as how you could use the money."

Annie finally shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "Sure." She would show Wes the room, but that didn't mean she was going to rent it to him. Annie didn't have to look at Theenie to know the woman was probably gnawing her bottom lip ninety-to-nothing.

* * * * *

Thirty minutes later, Annie led Wes to the second floor and into the master suite. The bronze and gilt furniture had been hand-carved along the lines of French provincial, only fancier — or ostentatious, as her mother had often remarked — adorned with hearts, curlicues, and rosettes. As in the dining room, the red walls and red velvet draperies were in keeping with the original decor. Annie had left the nineteen-inch color TV that her husband Charles had purchased for the room.

"What a shame," Wes said, looking at it.

Annie gave him a puzzled look.

He shrugged. "I don't think television sets belong in a husband and wife's bedroom, but that's just me." His gaze wandered to an overstuffed chair and ottoman near the fireplace.

"I converted all the fireplaces to gas," Annie said. "It's really nice falling asleep with a fire burning."

He turned to her. "Oh yeah?"

The look he gave her made her think of snuggling between crisp sheets and thick blankets on a cold night, hair-roughened legs entwined with smooth ones, a warm fire painting shadows on the walls. Annie crossed her arms. It felt weird standing alone with Wes in the bedroom she'd shared with her husband for two years. "The bathroom is through that door," she said, nodding toward it.

Wes turned his attention to the lavishly carved mirror over the bed. "Nice," he said. "Did you decorate this room?"

"Oh no," she said quickly. "It was done by an ancestor. The family insisted on keeping the house as close to the original design and decor as they could. With the exception of the kitchen," she added. "The original kitchen was detached from the house, as kitchens were in most homes of that era. It burned."

"Your ancestors had unusual tastes."

"Yes."

"Where do you sleep?"

Annie tried not to let herself gaze too long into those liquid brown eyes. "Next door. And Theenie is just across the hall," she added, and then wondered why she'd felt it necessary to let him know they wouldn't be the only ones sleeping on that floor.

"There are five bedrooms on the third floor, although some are small. My grandmother had an elevator installed once she began having trouble getting around, but it's slow and cantankerous." She couldn't help noticing the odd way he looked at her. Was he sizing her up? Trying to decide if she was really as crazy as he thought? She probably was crazy to even think of renting to him.